Want to start a wine cellar? Believe it or not, choosing the right bottle might be just as important as what’s inside. Dr. Andrew Waterhouse, professor of Enology at UC Davis, elegantly explains the important of bottle stoppers and aging wine.

Corks Seal a Wine’s Fate:
Aging Wine in Natural vs. Synthetic Closures

Most foods are best as fresh as possible. I remember picking peaches at my grandfather’s ranch in Northern California and eating them on the spot. What a taste! But the exceptions to this rule are the many wines that actually need some aging to taste their best. Winemakers know this, and work to control the aging process including decisions they make about how to bottle up their product.